Microsoft and NEC partner on IoT for retail and manufacturing

The retail sector is likely to be one of the most visible battlegrounds for the Internet of Things (IoT), and one where it could prove its worth sooner rather than later. So it’s not surprising that leading companies are lining up to get involved.

At this week’s Hannover Messe 2016 trade fair, NEC Corporation of America will be exhibiting the fruits of two collaborations with Microsoft’s Azure platform, both of which will target the retail sector.

Streamlined manufacturing

A manufacturing solution focuses on factory maintenance, repair and operation. It analyses energy consumption data to identify maintenance needs and automatically creates work orders. This means that a plant can function within a preventive maintenance culture.

This solution can also integrate factory operational data with employee identification and the case management system. This allows it to improve operational efficiencies and take a role in process enhancements. Biometrics are used for individual identification to maintain a higher security level that can be achieved with passwords.

This solution will be displayed in Microsoft’s booth (Hall 7, Stand C40).

IoT use in retail

Meanwhile, NEC is showing another solution that’s aimed at retail. This allows a retailer to understand the age and gender of shoppers and gathers information about their interests and purchases.

It has great potential for store managers who can use the information they learn to refine store layout, product placement, marketing and promotional offers, and digital signage to improve operational efficiencies and the bottom line.

This solution will be displayed in the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) booth (Hall 8, Stand C24)

In making these announcements Hiroyumi Inoue, vice president global platform solution center, NEC Corporation of America said: “Our strength in biometric solutions provides powerful endpoints for IoT solutions for manufacturing and retail industries. While we are focused on manufacturing and retail solutions today, our offerings are applicable across many industries including public safety, transportation, and hospitality.”

Caglayan Arkan, general manager of worldwide manufacturing and resources at Microsoft said:

“The intelligence revolution starts with business, and by utilizing our Intelligent Cloud, NEC is helping business customers empower their employees and optimize operations.”

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